Automotive seat plastic air bag cover

ABSTRACT

A plastic molded, air bag cover mountable in a snap-on fashion onto a retaining member or rim fixedly secured within an automotive seat is provided. The snap-on air bag cover includes a front cover panel including an outer peripheral portion adapted to overlie an air bag container and a close-out ring sewn to an outer fabric of the seat. Resilient clip members extend from the outer peripheral portion toward the retaining member. Each clip member has an extending snap-on groove defined therein adapted to cooperate with the retaining member for affixing the air bag cover to the automotive seat. The clip members are connected to the outer peripheral portion such that the resilient clip members are permitted to pivotably travel away from each other in opposite directions allowing the retaining member to enter and abuttingly engage the snap-on groove thereby retaining the air bag cover on the automotive seat. The retaining member may be a retaining portion of the air bag container or a retaining portion of the close-out ring which prevents tampering of the air bag container within the seat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication U.S. Ser. No. 08/479,850 entitled "Snap-On Air Bag Cover,"filed Jun. 7, 1995 which issued Mar. 26, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No.5,501,485, and U.S. patent application entitled "Plastic Air Bag CoverHaving an Integrated Light Source" filed Jun. 7, 1995 and having U.S.Ser. No. 08/477,873 and which issued Sep. 24, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No.5,558,364.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to plastic air bag covers and, in particular, toplastic air bag covers for automotive seats.

BACKGROUND ART

Presently, when one or more air bags are provided in an automobile, theair bag may be stored in a door panel or in an instrument panel (i.e.,IP) of the vehicle. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,732 discloses aside-impact air bag system including a frangible area for allowingegress of the air bag.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,435 discloses a side air bag including a weakenedportion which tears in order to allow egress of the air bag.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,676 discloses an air bag assembly, per se, whichincludes a rubber gasket.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,218 discloses an air bag assembly including fabricrings and a retainer ring that are sewn to the air bag body portion.

During automatic inflation of the air bag, at least a portion of the airbag cover moves away from the air bag container to permit the air bag toperform its safety function between its container and the occupant ofthe vehicle.

A practice in the automotive industry is utilization of all plasticfabricated air bag covers. Conventional air bag covers used inconjunction with occupant restraint systems often include variousconnections systems for attaching the air bag cover to the air bagcontainer.

It is also desirable to have an air bag cover which conveys informationto an occupant of the vehicle that behind the air bag cover there is asupplemental restraint system (SRS), such as an air bag, which willprotect the occupant. This provides reassurance in the form of areminder that the occupant has extra protection.

Current air bag covers have the phrase "SRS Air Bag" embossed into thefront panel of the air bag cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece, plasticmolded, snap-on air bag cover that is affixable directly to a retainingmember which, in turn, is fixedly secured within an automotive seat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plastic, snap-onair bag cover for an automotive seat, and which includes a front coverpanel with weakened portions to permit rupture and movement of a doorportion of the front cover panel upon inflation of the air bag. An outerperipheral portion of the front cover panel is adapted to overlie aclose-out ring which is sewn onto the fabric of the seat.

In carrying out the above objects and other objects of the presentinvention, a plastic molded, snap-on air bag cover mountable onto aretaining member fixedly secured within an automotive seat is provided.The snap-on air bag cover includes a front cover panel including anouter peripheral portion adapted to overlie an air bag container andfirst and second resilient clip members extending from opposite sides ofthe outer peripheral portion. Each clip member has an extending snap-ongroove defined therein adapted to cooperate with the retaining memberfor affixing said air bag cover to the automotive seat. Each clip memberis characterized in cross-section as having an engagement section forcontacting the retaining member during mounting onto the retainingmember and a biasing groove formed therein to facilitate resilientdisplacement of the engagement section. At least one of the clip membersis attached to the outer peripheral portion in a live hinge-like fashionto assist in a snap-on mounting of the cover onto the retaining member.

Further in carrying out the above objects and other objects of thepresent invention, an air bag cover of the type adapted to snap onto aretaining rim fixedly secured within an automotive seat is provided. Thecover includes a homogeneous thermoplastic molded body including a frontcover panel having an outer peripheral portion and an inner door portionseparable from the outer peripheral portion. The cover further includesa plurality of connectors that project from the outer peripheralportion. Each of the connectors is flexural relative to the outerperipheral portion for snap-on engagement with the retaining rim. Eachconnector includes a snap-on groove having a cross-sectional shapeadapted to receive and retain the retaining rim, and an engagementmember positioned ahead of the snap-on groove for guiding the retainingrim into engagement with the snap-on groove during flexural displacementof the connector.

The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of thepresent invention are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best mode for carrying out the invention when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view illustrating an air bagcover constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially broken away exploded view of one embodiment of theair bag cover;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, illustratinganother embodiment of an air bag cover constructed in accordance withthe present invention and similar to the air bag cover of FIG. 1 with adoor portion thereof in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a partially broken away sectional view taken along lines 4--4in FIG. 3 illustrating a light source module and one embodiment of asnap-on attachment mechanism of the air bag cover;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partially broken away sectional view of a tearseam of the air bag cover;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partially broken away sectional view of a doorhinge of the air bag cover;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the clip connector of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the clip connector taken along lines8--8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view illustrating two alternative locationsof a third embodiment of an air bag cover constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawing Figures, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1-9different embodiments of a plastic molded, snap-on air bag coverincluding a door portion constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-9, each air bag cover isadapted to be mounted on a car seat 20 or 20' of a motor vehicle asillustrated in the drawing Figures.

Each of the air bag covers of the present invention is preferably arelatively flexible thermoplastic air bag cover formed by injectionmolding with a thermoplastic such as Santoprene® (a trademark ofMonsanto Co.) Santoprene® 201-87 is a colorable thermoplastic generalpurpose elastomer with good fluid resistance which is processable byinjection molding and extrusion.

The tear strength, ultimate tensile strength, hardness, and elasticityof the material are characteristics important to the choice of thethermoplastic material used to manufacture the air bag cover. Thepreferred thermoplastic material used for manufacture of the air bagcover has a tensile strength in a range from 15.0 to 17.0 Mpa's. Thepreferred material used has a tear strength in a range from 47 to 51kN/M at 25° C. and 21 to 25 kN/M at 100° C. The preferred material usedhas a durometer hardness in a range of 70 to 100 on the Shore A scale.The above characteristics, in conjunction with the structure of the airbag cover, satisfy the necessary conditions related to the inflation andexit of an air bag from the air bag cover.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, different embodiments of an air bagcover, generally indicated at 22 are shown. The air bag cover 22includes a front cover panel 24 overlying an undeployed air bag 25 (i.e.FIG. 3). The front cover panel 24 has a front outer surface 26 and arear inner surface 28 (i.e. FIG. 4).

The cover 22 also includes an outer peripheral portion 30 and an innerdoor portion 32 which is separable from the outer peripheral portion 30along a tear seam 34 (i.e. FIGS. 2 and 5). The door portion 32 isattached to the outer peripheral portion 30 in a live hinge-like fashionby a door hinge 36 (i.e. FIGS. 3 and 6). The door hinge 36 permits aninflating air bag 25 to exit the cover 22 without the door portion 32entirely separating from the outer peripheral portion 30.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the door portion 32 has indicia or graphics37 such as the letters "SRS" (i.e. supplemental restraint system) moldedtherein to indicate that an air bag is located below the air bag cover22.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a front plate 35 havingtransparent or translucent indicia 37' formed thereon capable oftransmitting light therethrough. The cover 22 of FIGS. 3 and 4 includesa light source module 39 secured at the inner surface 28 of the doorportion 32 by a back plate 41 so that light from the light source module39 is transmitted through the indicia 37' to provide aninformation-hearing image. Details of such an air bag cover with a lightsource module can be found in the above-noted application entitled"Plastic Air Bag Cover Having an Integrated Light Source."

The outer peripheral portion 30 of the front cover panel 24 is mountableover a plastic close-out ring 38 which is fixably secured to a fabriclayer 40 of the automotive seat 20 such as by sewing. The fabric layer40 extends over and covers a foam layer 42 of the automotive seat 20 ina conventional fashion (i.e. FIG. 2). The close-out ring 38 preventstampering with the air bag container.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there are shown a pair of oppositely disposedresilient clip connectors 50 extending rearwardly from the outerperipheral portion 30 of the front cover panel 34. Preferably, twospaced pairs of such clip connectors 50 are provided. A snap-on groove52 is shown disposed within each clip connector 50. Each clip connector50 is comprised of a front engagement section 54 and a rear shouldersection 56 with the snap-on groove 52 disposed between the frontengagement section 54 and the rear shoulder section 56. The snap-ongroove 52 is configured to cooperate with the retaining rim 51 on an airbag container 53 (shown in phantom). For proper connection andretainment, the snap-on groove 52 should have a cross-sectional shapethat corresponds to the shape of the air bag container rim 51.Alternatively, the snap-on groove 52 (as well as the rest of the clipconnector 50) may be configured to cooperate with a retaining portion ofa modified close-out ring to secure the close-out ring and the air bagcover together within the seat 20.

As shown, each clip connector 50 also includes a biasing groove 58 whichextends in a direction parallel with the snap-on groove 52. The biasinggroove 58 divides the front engagement section 54 into a first segment60 and a second segment 62. The biasing groove 58 allows the firstsegment 60 to deform and move toward the second segment when the air bagcontainer rim 51 is initially engaged with the clip connector 50 justprior to full engagement within the snap-on groove 52.

While only two clip connectors 50 are shown in FIG. 4, there arepreferably four spaced clip connectors extending rearwardly from theouter peripheral portion 24. It is contemplated in the preferredembodiment that each snap-on groove 52 extends the entire length of itsrespective clip connector 50.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown an alternative embodimentof an air bag cover, generally indicated at 76, and constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The air bag cover 76 includes afront cover panel 78 having a hinge 79 and an inner surface 80 and anouter surface 82. The inner and outer surfaces 80 and 82, respectively,define a thickness of front cover panel 78. The air bag cover 76 isdesigned to be operably located on the automobile seat (not shown) suchthat the front cover outer surface 82 is exposed to occupant view.

The air bag cover 76 also preferably includes four clip connectors, onlyone of which is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 at 86, connected to itsrespective portion of an outer peripheral portion 94 of the cover 76.

Referring specifically now to FIG. 8, and using the clip connector 86 asrepresentative of the other clip connectors, the clip connector 86includes a front engagement section 102 and a rear shoulder section 104.As with the prior embodiment, a snap-on groove 106 is defined betweenthe front engagement section 102 and the rear shoulder section 104. Thesnap-on groove 106 of the second embodiment of the present invention hasa cross-sectional shape which corresponds to the rim 108 of an air bagcontainer 110. The snap-on groove 106 of FIG. 8 is L-shaped tocorrespond to the outer shape of rim 108. The clip connector 86 furtherincludes an outer inclined surface 112.

Referring specifically now to FIG. 7, there is shown a biasing groove114. The biasing groove 114, as with the prior embodiment discussedabove, extends parallel to the snap-on groove 106. The biasing groove114 divides the clip connector 86 into a first segment 116 and a secondsegment 118. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the inclinedsurface 112 in cooperation with the biasing groove 114 assist inlocating and abuttingly engaging the rim 108 of the air bag container110 within the snap-on groove 106. As with the first embodiment,alternatively, the snap-on groove 106, as well as the rest of the clipconnector 86, may be configured to cooperate with a retaining portion ofa modified close-out ring to secure the close-out ring and the air bagcover together within the automotive seat 20.

As the rim 108 of the air bag container 110 initially contacts the clipconnector 86, the rim 108 slides along the inclined surface 112 towardthe snap-on groove 106. Simultaneously, the first segment 116 of thefront engagement section 102 is deformed and moves toward the secondsegment 118. In this fashion, the snap-on connection of the air bagcover 76 to the air bag container 110 is assisted. For structuralintegrity and material cost savings, it is contemplated that the frontengagement section 102 may include a plurality of spaced apart, parallelsupports 120 which are disposed perpendicular to the snap-on groove 106.

Each clip connector, such as the clip connector 86, extends from arespective portion of the outer peripheral portion 94. Each clipconnector also is attached to the respective portion of the outerperipheral portion 94 in a live hinge-like fashion such that each clipconnector moves away from the other clip connectors upon operativeinsertion of the air bag container rim 108 within the snap-on groove106.

For example, opposing clip connectors move away from each other as therim 108 is abuttingly engaged against the inclined surfaces 112 of eachopposing clip connector. Further, the cooperation of the biasing grooves114 in the other pair of opposing clip connectors works to assist inlocating and operatively connecting the air bag container 110 to the airbag cover 76.

The particular thermoplastic described above assists in providing theoperative resilient characteristics needed to provide an air bag coverwhich is directly affixable to an air bag container. The air bag coverof the present invention is resilient enough to accept deformation ofthe clip connectors when the air bag cover is being connected to the airbag container and rigid enough to contain the air bag cover on the airbag container or the close-out ring (not shown) throughout the operativelife of the associated vehicle. Thus, the tear strength, ultimatetensile strength, hardness, and elasticity of the thermoplasticmaterial, as described above are important to the overall operation ofthe air bag cover.

The air bag cover of the present invention is preferably injectionmolded using conventional injection molding techniques.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there are illustrated other embodiments ofplastic snap-on air bag covers, generally indicated at 210 and 210',constructed in accordance with the present invention. The cover 210 issecured at a back side 212 of the driver or passenger seat 20'. Thecover 210' is secured to a bottom side 216 of the seat 20'. The covers210 and 210' may or may not include light source modules 220 and 220'which would be similar to the module 39. However, the covers 210 and210' would at least include indicia to convey graphical information to auser of the automotive seat. Like the module 39, the modules 220 and220' may include transparent or translucent indicia or graphics such asthe phrase "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION."

While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described indetail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates willrecognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing theinvention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plastic molded, snap-on air bag cover mountableonto a retaining member fixedly secured within an automotive seat, theair bag cover comprising:a front cover panel including an outerperipheral portion adapted to overlie an air bag container; first andsecond resilient clip members extending from opposite sides of the outerperipheral portion, each clip member having an extending snap-on groovedefined therein adapted to cooperate with the retaining member foraffixing the air bag cover to the automotive seat, each clip membercharacterized in cross-section as having an engagement section forcontacting the retaining member during mounting onto the retainingmember and a biasing groove formed therein to facilitate resilientdisplacement of the engagement section and wherein at least one of theclip members is attached to the outer peripheral portion in a livehinge-like fashion to assist in a snap-on mounting of the cover onto theretaining member, wherein the outer peripheral portion is mountable overa close-out ring fixedly secured to the automotive seat about the airbag container.
 2. A snap-on air bag cover as in claim 1 wherein eachclip member comprises a front engagement section and a rear shouldersection, said front engagement section having an inclined outer surfacefor cooperating with said retaining member for sliding said air bagcover onto said retaining member, the respective snap-on groove beingdisposed between said front and rear sections.
 3. A snap-on air bagcover as in claim 2 wherein each front engagement section includes aplurality of spaced, parallel supports disposed perpendicular to itssnap-on groove.
 4. A snap-on air bag cover as in claim 2 wherein eachbiasing groove is disposed parallel to its snap-on groove and dividingthe front engagement section into a first segment and a second segment,the biasing groove adapted to permit the first segment to move laterallyin relation to the second segment and allow the retaining member toenter and locate within the snap-on groove.
 5. A snap-on air bag coveras in claim 2 wherein the snap-on groove is "L" shaped in cross-section.6. A snap-on air bag cover as in claim 1 wherein the front cover panelincludes an inner door portion separable from the outer peripheralportion and attached to the outer peripheral portion in a livehinge-like fashion to permit an inflating air bag to exit the coverwithout the inner door portion entirely separating from the outerperipheral portion.
 7. A snap-on air bag cover as in claim 1 wherein theair bag container includes the retaining member.
 8. A snap-on air bagcover as in claim 1 manufactured from a resilient thermoplasticmaterial.
 9. A snap-on air bag cover as in claim 8 wherein thethermoplastic material is a thermoplastic rubber.
 10. An air bag coveras in claim 8 wherein the material has a tensile strength in a rangefrom 15.0 to 17.0 Mpa and a tear strength in a range from 47 to 51 kN/Mat 25° C. and 21 to 25 kN/M at 100° C.
 11. An air bag cover as in claim8 wherein the material has a durometer hardness ranging from 70 to 100on the Shore A scale.
 12. An air bag cover of the type adapted to snaponto a retaining rim fixedly secured within an automotive seat, thecover comprising:a homogeneous thermoplastic molded body including afront cover panel having an outer peripheral portion and an inner doorportion separable from the outer peripheral portion; a plurality ofconnectors projecting from the outer peripheral portion, each of theconnectors being flexural relative to the outer peripheral portion forsnap-on engagement with the retaining rim, each connector comprising:asnap-on groove having a cross-sectional shape and adapted to receive andretain the retaining rim; and an engagement member positioned ahead ofthe snap-on groove for guiding the retaining rim into engagement withthe snap-on groove during flexural displacement of the connector;wherein the front cover panel has an outer surface provided with indiciarepresenting graphical information.
 13. The air bag cover of claim 12wherein at least one of the engagement members is co-extensive with itsgroove.
 14. The air bag cover of claim 12 wherein at least one of theengagement members is resiliently displaceable in response to relativemovement of the retaining rim toward engagement with its groove.
 15. Theair bag cover of claim 14 wherein at least one of the engagement membersis divided into first and second spaced sections which are resilientlydisplaceable relative to one another to assist guidance of the retainingrim into engagement with its groove.
 16. The air bag cover of claim 12wherein at least one of the engagement members is formed with aninclined surface for contacting the retaining rim to guide the retainingrim into engagement with its snap-on groove.
 17. The air bag cover ofclaim 16 wherein the inclined surface is provided structural support bya plurality of spaced supports disposed perpendicularly to the grooveand internally of the inclined surface.
 18. The air bag cover of claim12 wherein the connector further comprises an array of spaced, parallelsupports joining the engagement member to the associated transverse wallfor structural support.
 19. The air bag cover of claim 18 wherein thesupports are disposed perpendicularly to the groove.
 20. The air bagcover of claim 12 wherein the connectors are formed on at least one pairof oppositely disposed portions of the outer peripheral portion.
 21. Theair bag cover of claim 12 wherein the connectors are formed on first andsecond pairs of oppositely disposed portions of the outer peripheralportion.
 22. The air bag cover of claim 12 wherein the front cover panelhas an inner surface and the indicia are capable of transmitting lighttherethrough and wherein the cover further comprises a light sourcemodule secured to the inner surface such that light from the lightsource module is transmitted through the indicia to provide aninformation-bearing image whereby the graphical information is provided.23. The air bag cover of claim 12 wherein the air bag container includesthe retaining rim.